Tobacco substitute

ABSTRACT

A non-tobacco plant smoking substitute material is disclosed having a low wood content or having no wood content. The smokable tobacco substitute can be worked by the technological methods customary in the tobacco industry and is characterized in that a homogeneous paste is produced from leaves, blossoms, stems fruits, shells, tubers or similar non-tobacco plant materials, having a low content or being free of chlorophyll and fat, and from water, which paste is supplemented by means of additives to a minimum content of 7.5 percent pectin, 2 percent amino acids and 10 percent sugar (in each case the percentage of dry weight as referred to the dry weight of the paste) and, in the case of a deficient binding capacity, it is made capable of binding through an admixture of NaCMC - sodium carboxymethylcellulose - and, in the case of deficient hygroscopic properties, it is made hygroscopic through an admixture of a softening material and then molded into tobacco substitute and solidified by drying.

United States Patent [191 Buchmann et a1.

11] 3,867,951 1 1 Feb. 25, 1975 1 TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE [73] Assignee:Tamag Basel AG, Basel,

Switzerland 22 Filed: June 11, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 368,587

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 232,222,March 6, 1972,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 131/2, 131/143 [51] Int. Cl A241) 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch l3l/2, l5, 17, 140-144 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,576,021 11/1951 Koree 131/2 2,809,904 10/1957 Koree 2,930,7203/1960 3,136,321 6/1964 Davis 131/14() R 3,203,432 8/1965 Green et a1.131/140 C 3,369,552 2/1968 Carroll 131/2 3,529,602 9/1970 Hind et ul.131/2 Primary Examiner-Melvin D. Rein Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A non-tobacco plant smokingsubstitute material is disclosed having a low wood content or having nowood content. The smokable tobacco substitute can be worked by thetechnological methods customary in the tobacco industry and ischaracterized in that a homogeneous paste is produced from leaves,blossoms, stems fruits, shells, tubers or similar nontobacco plantmaterials, having a low content or being free of chlorophyll and fat,and from water, which paste is supplemented by means of additives to aminimum content of 7.5 percent pectin, 2 percent amino acids and 10percent sugar (in each case the pe'rcentage of dry weight as referred tothe dry weight of the paste) and, in the case of a deficient bindingcapacity, it is made capable of binding through an admixture of NaCMCsodium carboxymethylcellulose and, in the case of deficient hygroscopicproperties, it is made hygroscopic through an admixture of a softeningmaterial and then molded into tobacco substitute and solidified bydrying.

4 Claims, No Drawings TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 232,222, filed Mar. 6, 1972 now abandoned.

The invention relates to a processed nontobacco plant material, having alow wood content or having no wood content. This plant material can beworked by the technological methods customery in the tobacco industryand a tobacco substitute thus produced.

It is known to remove the chlorophyll, which exerts a detrimental effecton the smoking pleasure, from the leaves of nontobacco plants and toincrease the protein content through the extraction of other componentsand to obtain a tobacco substitute from the leaves thus treated bydrying, with the addition of aromaimproving and combustion-promotingmaterials. It is also known to prepare a tobacco substitute from leavesof nontobacco plants and from cellulose sheets by spraying withchemicals or by impregnating with such chemicals.

With these known processes it is indeed possible to produce a sheetwhich is sufficiently flexible under certain circumstances so that itcan be worked in the same manner as leaf tobacco, but disadvantagesappear during smoking. In particular, the smoke aroma is notsatisfactory and frequently even covered by a burning, irritating tasteso that this sheet cannot be used in practice as tobacco substitute.

The task of the invention is to develop a product of the type mentionedat the outset in such a manner as to make possible the production ofatobacco substitute that is similar to the natural tobacco to thegreatest possible extent even during smoking and, in particular,possesses a pleasant, nonburning aroma.

The product of this invention is characterized in that it is made from ahomogeneous paste compounded from leaves, blossoms, stems, fruits,shells, tubers or similar nontobacco plant materials, having a lowcontent or being free of chlorophyll and fat, and from water, whichpaste is supplemented by means of additives to a minimum content of 7.5percent pectin 2 percent amino acids and percent sugar (in each case thepre sentage of dry weight as referred to the dry weight of the paste)and, in the case of a deficient binding capacity, it is made capable ofbinding through an admixture of NaCMC sodium carboxymethylcellulose and,in the case of deficient hygroscopic properties, it is made hygroscopicthrough an admixture of a softener material and then molded into tobaccosubstitute and solidified by drying. The dry weight portion of additivespreferably amounts to less than 50 percent (in reference to the dryweight of the nontobacco plant material which is employed). The dryweight portion of NaCMC preferably amounts up to 3 percent (in referenceto the dry weight of the paste). The dry weight portion of the softenermaterial preferably amounts up to 10 percent (in reference to the dryweight of the paste). The moisture content of the solidified tobaccosubstitute preferably amounts to l 10 percent (in reference to the dryweight of the paste). If chemicals are also added, the dry weightportion of such chemical preferably amounts at the most to 5 percent.

The tobacco sutstitute is molded into a sheet, strands, flakes or thelike.

In relation to other plants, natural tobacco is distinguished (amongother things) by a high content of pectin, amino acids and sugar. Thesespecial concentrations, that are characteristic for the natural tobacco,

are produced in the paste by means of additives. Experiments have shownthat it is possible to produce in this manner a sheet which is verysimilar to the natural tobacco leaf, both in regard to its capacity fortechnological processing and also in regard to its smoking properties.On the one hand, the aroma, which is pleasant just like that of a goodnatural tobacco, is probably caused by the fact that the minimal contentof pectin, amino acids and sugar (characteristic for the tobacco) ispresent and, indeed, in a fine distribution just as in a natural tobaccoleaf and, on the other hand, by the fact that many of the natural finestructures and molecular cross-linkages remain preserved at least foralarge portion of the material. Not only the composition (with regard tothe above-mentioned special components) but also the inner texture(structure) of the produced sheet can be made very similar to thenatural tobacco leaf, if any case to a greater extent than with theknown processes.

The additives may be added in the form of pure chemical substances.However, better results are obtained if additives are used in the formof raw extracts from non tobacco plants. In such raw plant extracts, theadditives are present, at least in part, still in their original naturalfine structure and molecular lattice, which can also be retained (by theextracts) to a considerable extent in the course of the process of theinvention. Besides, many raw plant extracts contain the desired aromacomponents that may also be present in a crosslinked form asconglomerates. This is probably the cause of the better results thatwere obtained in regard to the smoke aroma when additives were employedin the form of raw extracts. Here and in the following text, the termraw extract is to express the fact that these extracts consist of aconglomerate of various substances of the same group of substances in acombination as occurring in natural plant material. For example, suchraw plant extracts are obtained to a large extent in the production of.food, in part as low-value side products and in part even as waste, sothat they are available at a very good price, which is of importance forthe industrial usage.

A raw plant extract, having a high content of pectin, as obtained in theproduction of fruit juices, preferably apples and pears, is preferablyemployed as additive for bringing the pectin content to the desiredlevel.

For bringing the sugar content to the desired level, there is preferablyemployed a raw plant extract ob tained in sugar refineries as theso-called molasses or in the production of fruit juices, preferably fromplums, apricots and peaches, as fruit concentrate residue.

For bringing the amino acid content to the desired level, there ispreferably employed a raw plant extract obtained through hydrolysis ofthe albumin content from soybean flour or other natural materials havinga high albumin content, as obtained for example in the processing ofmilk products.

Under certain circumstances, a tobacco substitute having a nicotinecontent is desirable. And for such cases the invention proposes that thepaste be admixed either with a nicotine-containing raw plant extractfrom tobacco plants, as obtained in industrial leaching of tobaccoleaves, and/or a mixture of several nicotine salts, e.g., nicotinesulfate, nicotine phosphate, nicotine citrate, nicotine maleate andnicotine tannate. In both cases, the nicotine is not introduced as apure substance into the tobacco substitute, which produces a betterapproximation to the natural conditions, in a similar manner as in thecase of other additives. As already mentioned above, this circumstanceexerts a positive effect on the smoke aroma and on the smoking pleasure.

NaCMC turned out to be an effective binder, since relatively low amountsthereof are sufficient for producing a sheet having a satisfactorybinding capacity, which is probably based on the fact that the NaCMCforms particularly effective binding structures with the binders thatare already present in the plant material which is used.

A particularly fine distribution of the substances of the paste isdesirable for obtaining the greatest possible homogeneity of the tobaccosubstitute. In addition, it promotes the decomposition of the bindersalready present in the nontobacco plant material, which decomposition ispreferably accomplished through an addition of chemicals and/or heating,in order to render such binders adhesive. For this reason, a furtherdevelopment of the process of the invention is characterized in that thepaste is finely cominuted to an average colloidal particle size of 5 ,u.and smaller. The effects sought with such a fine distribution areattainable (although many particles are larger than 5 u, in part evensubstantially larger, with the average particle size given) because theintended binding effect is produced at least by the particles ofcolloidal size and the larger particles are embedded in the finishedtobacco substi- .tute.

The necessary comminution should be carried out in a careful mannersince, otherwise, the aroma is impaired. A careful comminution isattained by forming a suspension from the coarsely precomminutednontobacco plant material, water and at least the additives present in acoarse and water-insoluble form, which suspension is then forced betweenthe grinding grains of a packing of grinding grains that roll on eachother owing to stirring, so that the suspension is ground to the finalparticle size. A mill suitable for this purpose is known from theAustrian Pat. No. 280,870.

The following come into point as nontobacco plant materials: lettuceleaves, lettuce leaf veins, tea leaves, tea leaf stems, pine needles,banana leaves, cactus, nutshells, maize plants and maize fruits, leavesof beets, cabbages, petals, cereal plants and cereal grains and, inparticular, waste materials from cereal processing, such as cerealstalks, chaff (Laten: palea) and bran (Latin: furfur), thus, forexample, chaff and bran of oats, rye, hops, rice and other types ofchaff and bran. These cereal waste products lead to a pleasant smokearoma, which may be based on the high content of pentosans. Just as thenutshells, the cereal waste products are very economical since thematerials in question are byproducts. The nontobacco plant material maybe fermented entirely or in part, approximately in the same manner asthe natural tobacco is fermented for further processing. However, thenontobacco plant material can also be worked without fermenting.

The following can be considered as plant extracts: for example, fruitconcentrate, residues of must manufacture, molasses, brewery residuesand most plant extracts that are obtained in food manufacture.

Plant parts and/or plant extracts possessing undesirable components,such as wood, chlorophyll, toxic components or components that producetoxic effects in the smoke and/or alkaloids are to be avoided or suchcomponents are to be decomposed, rendered harmless or removed, If plantparts or plant extracts possess undesirable components but also specialaromaimproving components or components that improve the physicalproperties of the tobacco sheet, then the expenditures associated withthe removal of such undesirable components will be readily acceptedunder certain circumstances, in order to bring the abovementionedfavorable components into the finished tobacco substitute.

The following can be considered for example as softening substances:percent sorbitol, glycerine, diethylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

As chemicals added to the paste for promoting the decomposition of thehinder, the following can be considered, for example: ammonia, ammoniumformiate, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, polyphosphates,citric acid and tartaric acid.

As examples of undesirable plant components that are present in manyplants and plant extracts and are removed from the paste in a givencase, the following come into point in addition to those mentionedabove:

atropine, morphine, caffeine, heroin and the like. Pharmocologicallyand/or aromatically active additives may be admixed to the paste and forthis purpose the following come into point, for example:

menthol, nicotine, caffeine, natural tobacco extracts, sauces andflavors as employed with natural tobacco, aroma extracts from thenatural tobacco as well as other, preferably heat-resistant andpreferably volatile substances that are undecomposed in the smoke to aconsiderable extent. Of course, the dosage of these additives will beselected low so as to avoid the occurrence of harmful effects thatexceed the intended favorable pharmacological and/or aromatic effect.The dose of the nicotine additive will be suitably selected so low thatthe great harmful effects (as in the case of the natural tobacco) neednot be taken into account.

EXAMPLE 1 One kg starting material, consisting of a mixture of 70percent tea leaves, 5 percent potato peelings, 12 percent rose petalsand 13 percent anise root ends, is cut up to about 2 cm cutting lengthand then precomminuted in a crushing mill to 250 p. and less. Thecomminuted material thus obtained is suspended in 4 liter suspensionliquid, consisting of tap water. This suspension is admixed with 70 gplant extract, consisting of a mixture of 4 parts molasses (sugarrefinery residue) and one part malt sugar. Then the suspension is forcedin a mill through a continuously stirred packing of glass spheres and iscomminuted finely in this manner. The glass spheres have a diameter ofabout 3 millimeters. The average time of stay of the suspension in thepacking of glass spheres amounts to 10 minutes. The excess heatgenerated by the friction, as the material is forced through the glasssphere packing, is removed by cooling so that the suspension cannotexceed a temperature of 43C during grinding. In the paste dischargedfrom the glass sphere packing, the plant parts and the plant extract arefinely comminuted to colloidal particle size.

Into the finely comminuted paste, 20 g NaCMC is admixed as binderadditive and 50 g glycerine as a softener. Besides, 30 g water-solubleplant extract, consisting of a mixture of one part glucose and one partfructose, is admixed to the paste.

Then the paste is spread out into a sheet, dried by means of warm airand, after cooling, moistened again with water vapor and adjusted to amoisture content of about percent in reference to the dry weight. Thesheet, which is elastic and strong, is divided into pieces 5 having thesame size as the natural leaves and processed into smokable articles,such as cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and the like, in the samemanner as the natural leaves or intermixed with such leaves.

The following examples differ from Example 1 only through the dataappearing in the following Tables.

Table 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 80% tea leaves 25% stinging 30%dried nettle ebony l5% tomato leaves (Urtica) leaves Nontobacco plantparts, one kg 5% thyme roots straw (sweet) in all, in each woodrufl"case, as starting material 1% spruce 3% maple needles bark 50% dried 20%dried sour chestnut cherry leaves leaves 27% maize leaves 50 g molasses70 g raw pectin Plant extract stirred into 50 g fruit the suspensionconcentrate 30 g hydrolyzed 70 g raw pear soybean pectin flour 30 gfruit Plant extract concentrate stirred into the paste 10 g raw pectin 5liter water 5 liter 0.3% 5 liter Suspension phosphate 0.1% liquidsolution potassium carbonate solution Binder additive g NaCMC 25 g NaCMCg NaCMC Softener 25 g 70% g diethyl 40 g diethyl- Additive sorbitol eneglycol ene glycol 30 g glucose 25 g asbestos Further additives 5 gcalcium to be stirred formiate into the paste 20 g asbestos l0 gtartaric acid 4 g Virginaroma Secondary subtheine (removed stancesremoved by chloroform from the paste extraction) Table 2 Example 5Example 6 Nontobacco plant oat bran dried fern parts, one kg in all, ineach 20% straw l0% black tea case as starting material 10% oak leaves 40g molasses 40 g molasses 30 g fruit concentrate 35 g fruit concenfrompeaches and trate plums Plant extract 10 g crude apple stirred intopectine the suspension g residue from must manufacture, con- 15 gsoybean flour taining about 20% pectin 20 g hydrolyzed soybean Secondarysubstances removed from the paste In accordance with these examples, itis possible to obtain a sheet of substitute tobacco which ischaracterized by l. the composition of the dry content of the followingcomponents: at least tobacco substitute plant material, having a lowcontent of chlorophyll], fat and wood, and at the most 3 raw plantextract from tobacco substitute plants, NaCMC, softener as well as otherchemicals and 2. a dry weight portion of at least 7.5 percent (butpreferably at least percent) pectin, at least 2 percent (but preferablyat least 4 percent) amino acids, at least 10 percent sugar and 3. ahomogeneous distribution of the components and 4. the fact that thepectins, amino acids and sugar are present to a considerable extent intheir natural cross-linkage given by the plant material and raw plantextract employed.

A tobacco substitute sheet of this kind can be processed in the samemanner as the natrual tobacco. If necessary, it may be mixed with thenatural tobacco. It offers a pleasant aroma in smoke without a badaftertaste.

In many cases, the tobacco substitute produced in accordance with theinvention does not possess the same color as the tobacco recovered fromtobacco plants. In such cases, the color of the tobacco substitute canbe changed by admixing and homogenizing the paste with a dried brownleaf material serving as the dye portion of the nontobacco plantmaterial, e.g., oak leaves,

maple leaves, beech leaves or red beech leaves.

The embodiment of the invention in which exclusive property or privelegeis claimed are defined as follows:

1. A tobacco substitute having low cellulose, fat and chlorophyllcontent which is comprised of a homogeneous mixture of a. a non-tobaccoplant material comprising chaff or bran of cereal plants in an amount ofat least of said tobacco substitute;

b. fruit extract sufficient to bring the pectin content of the tobaccosubstitute to about 7.5-l0 percent; c. molasses or fruit extractsufficient to bring thesugar content of the tobacco substitute to atleast 10 percent and d. hydrolyzed natural material of high albumincontent sufficient to bring the amino acid content of the tobaccosubstitute to about 24 percent.

2. A tobacco substitute according to claim 1 which comprises a. amixture of oat bran, straw and oak leaves b. residue from mustmanufacture containing about 20 percent pectin c. molasses and fruitconcentrate from peaches and plums and d. hydrolyzed soybean flour.

3. A tobacco substitute according to claim 1 which is in comminuted formand has an average colloidal particle size of 5 ,u.

4. A tobacco substitute according to claim I which is in the form of asheet.

1. A TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE HAVING LOW CELLULOSE, FAT AND CHLOROPHYLLCONTENT WHICH IS COMPRISED OF A HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE OF A. A NON-TOBACCOPLANT MATERIAL COMPRISING CHAFF OR BRAN OF CEREAL PLANTS IN AN AMOUNT OFAT LEAST 2/3 OF SAID TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE; B. FRUIT EXTRACT SUFFICIENT TOBRING THE PECTIN CONTENT OF THE TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE TO ABOUT 7.5-10PERCENT; C. MOLASSES OR FRUIT EXTRACT SUFFICIENT TO BRING THESUGARCONTENT OF THE TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE TO AT LEAST 10 PERCENT AND D.HYDROLYZED NATURAL MATERIAL OF HIGH ALBUMIN CONTENT SUFFICIENT TO BRINGTHE AMINO ACID CONTENT OF THE TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE TO ABOUT 2-4 PERCENT.2. A tobacco substitute according to claim 1 which comprises a. amixture of oat bran, straw and oak leaves b. residue from mustmanufacture containing about 20 percent pectin c. molasses and fruitconcentrate from peaches and plums and d. hydrolyzed soybean flour.
 3. Atobacco substitute according to claim 1 which is in comminuted form andhas an average colloidal particle size of 5 Mu .
 4. A tobacco substituteaccording to claim 1 which is in the form of a sheet.